Improvement in faucets



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THOMAS J. THOBN, OF SKANEATELES, NEW YORK, AND JONATHAN DENNIS, JR., OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FAuolars.v

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 57,220, dated August 14, 18.66.

To all 'whom it may concern: l

Be it known that we, THOMAS J. THORN, of Skaneateles, Onondaga county, State of New York, and J oNA'rHAN DENNIS, Jr., of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Faucets or Valves for Gasks, Tanks, Boilers, and other Vessels and we do hereby declare that the following description and accompanying drawings are sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use our said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

The object of our invention is to make a faucet or cock that may be inserted in casks intended to be iilled with beer or other fernienting or eifervescing liquors, and remain in the cask during repeated iillings and emptyings of the cask, the faucet being fitted to receive another faucet or pipe when desired.

The nature of our invention and improvements in faucets consists in a faucet stock or tube fitted for insertion in a cask, tank, boiler, or other vessel, with two holes through it and a valve at its inner end, marked by a rod 'or screw passing through one of the holes, and independent of the hole through which the water or liquor is drawn or Hows; and in arranging a strainer on the inner end of the faucet-stock beyond the valve; and in extending a rod from the valve through or beyond the strainer to carry an arm to sweep the strainer and clean it.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of the front end of the faucet. Fig. 2 is a section showing the faucet cut on the line z z of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the rear or inner end. Fig. 4 is a section to the right of the line y y.

In the accompanying drawings, A is the faucet stock or tube, made of "metal, in the form shown, or in such other form as will answer the purpose, and so constructed as to be applied to a cask, tank, boiler or other vessel, or to a tube or pipe. This stock may be made with a iiange, B, or without it; but when made with a flange the flange, may ce perforated for one or more screws or bolts to fasten the stock in its place. If made without the flange, some lugs or ears will be convenient in screwing it into a cask. This stock A has a large hole, C, in itfor the water or liquor, 85o., to run through, and a small hole, D, for the valve stem or rod to turn in.

The valve E is fitted to the inner end of the stock A, to cover and close the hole C when required. It is fastened to the valve stem or rod F, tted to the hole D, which passes through the stock A, and hasa lever, G, fastened to its outer end, to turn it and swing the valve E over or olf of the hole C to open and close the faucet. The valve E may be ground to its seat in the inner end of the stock in a manner well known to faucet-makers, so as to t very perfectly', and as the valve will have the pressure of the liquor or steam to press it against its seat, it will not be likely to leak if well fitted, and the valve-plate extends around the stem lto prevent its leaking beside the stern; or there may be a stuffing-box in the stock around the stem. There mayr be a nut on the valve-stein at the outer end of the stock, or a pin through it to hold it in.

The outer end of the hole O in the stock A may have a female screw in it, to receive and connect a pipe or cock to it 5 or the stock may be made with a short tube projecting from it, with a male screw on the outside and a female screw on the inside, so that a pipe may be coupled to it by screwing into or onto the projecting tube.

Wedeem this faucet peculiarly adapted to beer-casks and other fermen ting liquors,where there is often great pressure, so that it is very difficult to tap them Without the loss of considerable liquor; and to avoid this loss we contemplate that when our improved faucet is once put into a cask, which should be done before the cask is iilled, it shall remain in the cask as long as the cask is used, or during repeated llings and emptyings, so that a pipe or cock can be coupled to the faucet without the loss of a single drop of liquor; and as there is apt to be more or less hop-leaves in beer, which might choke the faucet, we fasten Va strainer, H, to the inner end of the stock,

made of sheet metal perforated, and-leave an opening, l, on one side of the strainer, just wide enough for the valve to swing through 0r in when open, the valve lilling and stopping the opening in the strainer while the 'liquor is running; and to clear the hopleaves from the strainer We extend a stein from the valve or the valve-rod beyond the valve through they strainer H, and fasten an arm, J, to it, so that when the valve is opened and closed the arm J will vibrate or swing across the rear end of the strainer, which is perforated, and sweep o or away any hop-leaves that may gather there.

There may be some pins or stops P P in the face of the stock to stop the lever that works the valve when the faucet is opened or closed.

In making this faucet theyal\fe with the rod extending' from it in each direction may be cast in one piece, and the outer end of the rod may be tted to receive a key or Wrench to turn the valve.

The stock A of this faucet must be made long enough to reach through the head of the cask, so that the yalve can have room to swing od' when the faucet is inserted in the cask.

The faucet-stock need project but little beyond the head ofthe cask, not half of the length of the chine, and a cap may be fitted to it to protect the end of the tube when the cask is empty and While it is being transported.

We contemplate that the valve may be through one of the holes and independent of the hole through which the Water or liquor is drawn or flows.

2. In combination with the above-claimed faucet, a strainer arranged beyond the Valve.'Y

of the faucet.

3. In combination with the strainer arranged beyond the Valve, an arm arranged to sweep orclear the strainer, substantially as described.

4. The extension of the valve-rod through the strainer to Work the arm that sweeps the strainer.

THOMAS J. THORN. JONATHAN DENNIS, JR.

Witnesses to signature of Thomas J. Thorn:

D. HABBARD, S. PARDEE.

Witnesses to signature of Jonathan Dennis, Jr.

J. M. FOWLER, J. H. S. MUNsoN. 

